Baige Zhang1, Mingzhu Li1, Qiang Li2, Jian Cao1, Changyuan Zhang1, Fusuo Zhang3, Zhao Song1, Xinping Chen4. 1. Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China. 2. Foshan Research Institute of Agricultural Science, Foshan, China. 3. College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China. 4. College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The elemental uptake and allocation patterns of crops create insight for nutrient management. Two-year field experiments were conducted to determine the growth and nitrogen (N) uptake patterns of bitter gourd and to evaluate different N management strategies. Two N practices during the nursery stage, namely the conventional fertilizer method (Scon) and the controlled-release fertilizer management method (Scrf), combined with three N management strategies after transplanting, namely zero N fertilizer application (Nno), the conventional strategy (Ncon) and the systematic N management strategy (Nopt), were assessed. RESULTS: Averaged over two years, the Scrf-Nopt treatment performed best, producing 33.1 t ha-1 fruit yield with 310 kg N ha-1 , indicating that the yield was 22.6% greater by using 18.8% less fertilizer N than in the Scon-Ncon treatment. The Scrf-Nopt treatment facilitated plant growth by accumulating 20.0% more total dry weight and prioritized its allocation to productive organs (57.2%), while the Scon-Ncon strategy was biased toward leaves (56.3%) over fruits (43.8%). Nitrogen uptake and distribution closely followed the pattern of biomass. CONCLUSION: The Scrf-Nopt fertilization strategy coordinated the important role that N plays in total accumulation and well proportion of biomass and N in bitter gourd developmental processes.
BACKGROUND: The elemental uptake and allocation patterns of crops create insight for nutrient management. Two-year field experiments were conducted to determine the growth and nitrogen (N) uptake patterns of bitter gourd and to evaluate different N management strategies. Two N practices during the nursery stage, namely the conventional fertilizer method (Scon) and the controlled-release fertilizer management method (Scrf), combined with three N management strategies after transplanting, namely zero N fertilizer application (Nno), the conventional strategy (Ncon) and the systematic N management strategy (Nopt), were assessed. RESULTS: Averaged over two years, the Scrf-Nopt treatment performed best, producing 33.1 t ha-1 fruit yield with 310 kg N ha-1 , indicating that the yield was 22.6% greater by using 18.8% less fertilizer N than in the Scon-Ncon treatment. The Scrf-Nopt treatment facilitated plant growth by accumulating 20.0% more total dry weight and prioritized its allocation to productive organs (57.2%), while the Scon-Ncon strategy was biased toward leaves (56.3%) over fruits (43.8%). Nitrogen uptake and distribution closely followed the pattern of biomass. CONCLUSION: The Scrf-Nopt fertilization strategy coordinated the important role that N plays in total accumulation and well proportion of biomass and N in bitter gourd developmental processes.